http://www.ck12.org Chapter 10. Understanding Biodiversity: Plants
10.1 Encelia californica: Bush Sunflower
Common Name
- California Encelia
- Bush Sunflower
- Encelia Daisy
- California Sunflower
Description
TheE. californicais a bushy perennial shrub, and it is native to San Diego. Its height range is between 20-60 inches
tall and it has a rapid growth rate. TheE. californicahead has golden petals with brownish-red disks. Its leaves are
about 1 to 2^12 inches long. Its green, smooth, wavy-edged leaf almost looks and feels like wool.Encelia californica
is rough, has a strong odor, but is very colorful and attractive to the eye.
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Asterales
- Family: Asteraceae
- Tribe: Heliantheae
- Genus:Encelia
- Species:E. californica
Habitat
E. californicais known to grow in coastal bluffs and open or bushy slopes below 2000 ft.E. californicablooms in
coastal sage and chaparral from February to June.E. californicais not an annual, but it is a perennial, meaning the
plant lives for several years.E. californicais drought deciduous, meaning it loses its leaves and looks dead in the
summer, when it’s dry. When rain comes the next season, the plant revives, puts out new green leaves, and begins to
flower.